Trouser stretcher



Nov. 19, 1935. H. A, JoHNsTbN 2,021,688

TROUSER STRETCHER Filed Nbv. L1,, 1932 Patented Nov. 19, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TROUSER STRETCHER Howard Addison Johnston, Toronto, Ontario, Canada This invention relates to stretchers particularly adapted for use in supporting and shaping flannel trousers after washing or cleaning and during the drying thereof, and my objects are to devise a collapsible device on which the garment may easily be positioned, which is readily conditioned for expansion to the stretching position without the use of the hands of an operator, which is readily contracted, and which is durable and yet simple in construction and reasonably cheap to manufacture.

I attain my objects by making my stretchers of a bar and a rod, the bar being of inverted U cross-sectional shape and the rod having 8 shaped springs integrally formed at the ends thereof. The free ends of the springs are received between the sides of the U bar and are anchored thereto. Adjacent each end of the rod is mounted a pulley and around each pulley is passed a cord having one end anchored between the sides of the U bar. The free end of each cord'passes between the jaws of a clamp and through an opening in the top of the inverted U bar. The movable jaws of the clamps are pivoted between the sides of the U bar and their free ends project beyond the ends thereof. The springs may thus be released separately by tripping the movable jaws which are so located that the body of an operator may be utilized while the operators hands are employed in maintaining the garment straight and taut on the stretcher.

The constructions are hereinafter more fully described and are illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my stretchers showing them on their support ready to receive a pair of trousers;

Fig. 2 a plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 an end elevation partly in section, on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 4 a longitudinal sectional detail, on an enlarged scale, on the line 4-4 in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 a perspective view showing one end of a trouser leg secured to the stretcher and the latter expanded for stretching the secured end of the garment, the other end thereof being straightened and drawn tightly along the stretcher just before the other end of the latter is expanded.

In the drawing like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

The apparatus consists of an upright post I on which a pair of collapsible trouser stretcher devices 2, 2 are removably carried, as hereinafter described, while the legs of the trousers are positioned thereon. The trousers with the stretchers 2, 2 in the legs thereof are then removed from the post and hung up to dry and another pair of stretchers are mounted on the post to receive a fresh pair of trousers.

Each stretcher 2 comprises a bar 3 of sheet 5 metal being U shaped in cross-section and a rod t having substantially S shaped springs 5, E5 formed at the ends thereof. The free ends of the springs are received between the sides of the U bar 3 and are suitably anchored at 5 B thereto. The transverse distance between the bar and rod at the end 2 of the stretcher 2 is normally greater than the distance between the bar and rod at the other end 2 of the stretcher so that the stretcher has wide and narrow ends 2*, 2 respectively to follow the general lines of a trouser leg. This is readily accomplished by making the spring 5 larger than the spring 6. The bar 3 is formed of rigid material and the rod 4 is formed of material which is resilient so that it will readily conform to any desired shape and at the same time apply pressure at all points of contact.

The stretcher is contracted or collapsed by compressing the springs 5, 6 and for this purpose the cords 1, 8 and clamps 53, Ml are provided. One end of the cord 1 is anchored at l between the sides of the bar 3 and the cord is passed around a pulley H which is journalled on a clip !2 suitably secured to the rod 4 adjacent the wide end 2 of the stretcher. The free end of the cord 1 passes over a guide pulley l 3, mounted between the sides of the bar 3, and extends forwardly in the chan nel of the bar, then passes around another guide pulley l4 and through an opening i5 in the top web of the bar 3. The opening I5 is located adjacent the end of the bar at the wide end 2 of the stretcher and the guide pulley M also serves as the fixed jaw of the clamp 9. The movable jaw 9 of this clamp is pivoted intermediate its ends on a pin which extends across the channel of the bar 3 and is flush with the sides thereof. The free end of the jaw 9 projects beyond the end of the bar 3 so that it is readily accessible to release the cord 7 and thus permit the expansion of the spring 5 at the wide end 2 of the stretcher. One end of the other cord 8 is anchored at 8 between the sides of the bar 3 and the cord is passed around a pulley l6 which is journalled on a clip I! suitably secured to the rod 4 adjacent the narrow end 2 of the stretcher. The free end of the cord 8 passes around a guide pulley I8, mounted between the sides of the bar 3, and then through an opening it in the top web of the bar 3. The opening I9 is located adjacent the and of the bar at the narrow end 2 of the stretcher 5 and the guide pulley I9 also serves as the fixed jaw of the clamp It. The movable jaw Ill of this clamp is pivoted intermediate its ends similar to the jaw 9 and projects beyond the end of the bar 3 so that it is readily accessible to release the cord 8 and thus permit the expansion of the spring 6 at the narrow end 2 of the stretcher.

The thickness of the clips I2, I! and their pulleys I I and I6 is less than the diameter of the rod 4, and as everything connected with the bar 3 is located within the channel therein, nothing but the smooth bar and rod engages the trouser leg to stretch it. The movable jaws 9 Ill of the clamps 9, II) may be readily moved to co-operate with the pulleys I4, 23 to clamp the cords I, 8 by swinging the latter over the said jaws and relieving the pull on the cords. Conversely, the width of the stretcher may be varied, after it has been collapsed, by swinging the cords over the pulleys I l, I8 away from the jaws 9 I0 and pulling on the cords to release the jaws without permitting the parts to return to their initial positions. When the stretcher is adjusted to the desired extent, the cords are swung away from the pulleys and over the movable jaws to rock them into position for jamming the cords against the pulleys. The projecting free ends of the movable jaws are extended outwardly and curved downwardly below their pivotal connections on the bar 3 so that a slight pressure exerted by a lateral movement of the body of an operator will trip the clamps torelease the cords.

The wide end 2* of the stretcher, on which the waist end of the trouser leg is fitted, is removably carried on a support 20 which extends laterally from each side of the post I and the adjacent forward ends of the bars 3 rest on these supports at opposite sides of the post. The stretchers are supported at another point by arms 2| which project rearwardly and upwardly from the opposite sides of the post. Each arm is provided with a forked end 22 adapted to be received between the side walls of the bar 3 and to embrace a pin or rivet 23 extending across the space between the said walls at a point intermediate the ends of the stretcher. The forked ends 22 are offset rela tive to the arms 2I so that clearance between the arms and springs 5 is provided to permit the stretchers to hang vertically from the forked ends. The latter are directed lengthwise of the bars and thus limit the longitudinal movement thereof in one direction. To prevent longitudinal movement of the bars in the opposite direction, I provide them with shoulders 24 adapted to engage lugs 25 on the post I. These lugs are located, above the supports 20, a distance less than the depth of the inverted U bars 3 which are notched at 24 to receive the lugs 25. The notches 24 are formed in the tops or webs of the bars between the cord outlet openings I5 and the adjacentends of the bars. The distance between the recess formed in the forked end of the arm 2| and the side of the lug 25 remote from said recess is substantially equal to the distance between the pin 23 .and the end-of the notch 24 remote from said pin so that longitudinal displacement of the bar 3 is prevented while the notch is engaged by the lug. A spring 25 carried by the support 20 is curved to engage the outer lower corners of the bars 3 to tend to hold them against the post I and thus prevent accidental disengagement of the notches 24 and the lugs 25.

To position a stretcher on its supports 20 and 2I, the bar 3 is lifted above the forked end 22 of the arm 2| then it is lowered to position the pin 23 for engagement with the recess in the forked end and then it is moved longitudinally until the pin is engaged with the forked end which limits the longitudinal movement of the bar in this direction. The notched end of the bar is then swung inwardly on the support 29 towards the post I and the lug 2 As the notch 24 is in register with the lug this inward movement is continued, against the displacement of the spring 26, until the bar comes to rest against the post in which position it is normally held by the spring 26, see Fig. 3. To remove the stretcher, it is first swung against the compression of the spring 26 to disengage the notch 24 from its lug 25 which permits the bar 3 to be moved longitudinally to remove the pin 23 from the forked end 22.

Preferably the lugs 25 and supports 20 are formed by securing two strips of metal to the rear face I of the post I so that the strips project transversely beyond the sides of the post. The strip of material forming the lugs is shorter than the strip forming the supports so that the ends of the bars 3 may be rested thereon while the pins 23 are being fitted in and removed from the forked ends 22.

Assuming a pair of contracted stretchers 2, 2 are supported on the post I, the method of use is as follows. The trousers are turned inside out .and the legs 21 thereof are drawn, wide end first, over the narrow ends 2 of the stretchers and over the arms 2I until the waist band of the trousers is positioned near the cords I at the wide end 2 of the stretchers. The said waist band is then removably secured to the bars 3 by any well known means such as large sized clothes pins 28 and the clamps 9 are released by tripping the projecting ends of the movable jaws 9 thereof to release the cords I expand. The operator then moves to a position relative to one of the stretchers so that the seams 2I along the opposite sides of the trouser leg 21 may be grasped by the hands of the operator to bring the seams into register. While the seams are thus held matched, the narrow end of the trouser leg is drawn along the stretcher and, while the trouser leg is held taut by the hands of the operator, the" clamp It is released by tripping the projecting end of the movable jaw Ill with the operators body. The spring 6 is thus expanded while the garment is properly positioned and tensioned longitudinally so that no wrinkles will be formed in the garment while it is being stretched, After the wide and narrow ends of the other trouser leg are similarly treated and the other stretcher fully expanded, the stretchers are removed, as hereinbefore described, with the trousers thereon from the post I and hung preferably with the small end up in a drying room. Another set of stretchers are then mounted on the post and a fresh pair of trousers are positioned on these stretchers. When the trousers in the drying room are dry, the stretchers are hung so that the large end of the trousers will be above the small end thereof. The stretchers are then contracted to permit the trousers to drop by gravity into a suitable receptacle for carrying them to a pressing machine. The stretchers are thus conditioned ready for use again on the post.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A trouser stretcher comprising a stretcher bar substantially U shaped in cross-section; a stretcher rod having substantially S shaped springs formed integral therewith, the free ends of the springs being received between the sides of the U bar and secured thereto; means for and permit the springs 5 to drawing the stretcher rod towards the stretcher bar; and releasable means for clamping the firstmentioned means to retain the stretcher in its contracted position.

2. A trouser stretcher comprising a stretcher bar substantially U shaped in cross-section; a stretcher rod having substantially S shaped springs formed integral therewith, the free ends of the springs being received between the sides of the U bar and secured thereto; flexible members, one at each end of the stretcher rod for drawing the latter towards the stretcher bar; and releasable clamps located at opposite ends of the stretcher bar for clamping the flexible members.

3. A trouser stretcher comprising a stretcher bar substantially U shaped in cross-section; a stretcher rod having substantially S shaped springs formed integral therewith, the free ends of the springs being received between the sides of the U bar and secured thereto; flexible members, one at each end of the stretcher rod for drawing the latter towards the stretcher bar; and releasable clamps located at opposite ends of the stretcher bar for clamping the flexible members, one of the said clamps having a movable jaw carried on a trigger having its free end extended beyond the end of the stretcher bar for tripping engagement by the body of an operator.

4. A trouser stretcher comprising a stretcher bar substantially U shaped in cross-section; a stretcher rod having substantially s shaped springs formed integral therewith. the free ends of the springs being received between the sides of the U bar and secured thereto, the distance between the stretcher rod and stretcher bar being normally greater at one end of the stretcher than at the other end thereof; means for contracting the wide end of the stretcher; means for releasing the said contracting means; a flexible member for contracting the narrow end of the stretcher; and a releasable clamp located at the narrow end of the stretcher for clamping the flexible member, the said clamp including a movable jaw having its free end projected beyond the end of the bar for tripping engagement by the body of an operator.

5. A trouser stretcher comprising a stretcher bar substantially U shaped in cross-section; a

substantially S shaped stretcher rod having springs formed integral therewith, the free ends of the springs being received between the sides of the U bar and secured thereto, the distance between the stretcher rod and stretcher bar being normally greater at one end of the stretcher than at the other end thereof; means for contracting the wide end of the stretcher; means for releasing the said contracting means; a pulley carried by the stretcher rod adjacent the narrow end of the stretcher; a flexiblemember having one end anchored between the sides of the stretcher bar, the bar being provided with an opening adjacent the narrow end of the stretcher, the free end of the member being passed around the pulley and through the opening; and a releasable clamp for clamping the free end of the member, the said clamp including a movable jaw pivoted between the sides of the U bar and having its free end extending beyond the end of the bar for tripping engagement by the body of an operator.

6. A trouser stretcher comprising a pair of stretcher members; spring means between the members tending to spread them apart; a flexible member for drawing the stretcher members towards one another to contract the stretcher; and a releasable clamp for clamping the flexible member, the clamp including a movable jaw having its free end projecting beyond an end of the stretcher for tripping engagement by the body of an operator.

'7. A trouser stretcher comprising a pair of stretcher members; spring means between the members tending to spread them apart; separate means for drawing the opposite ends of the members towards one another to contract the stretcher, the last mentioned means comprising a flexible member at least at one end of the stretcher; and a releasable clamp for clamping the flexible member to retain one end of the stretcher contracted, the clamp including a movable jaw having its free end projecting beyond the end of the stretcher.

8. Trouser stretcher apparatus comprising a pair of stretchers on which the legs of a pair of trousers are adapted to be stretched; means for detachably supporting the stretchers at one end thereof; and means for detachably supporting the stretchers at a point remote from the first mentioned supporting means, the second mentioned means being adapted to be received within the legs of the trousers being stretched.

9. Trouser stretcher apparatus comprising a pair of stretchers on which the legs of a pair of trousers are adapted to be stretched; opposed abutment shoulders formed in each stretcher; means adapted to engage the shoulders to hold the stretchers from longitudinal displacement; and means for preventing the accidental disengagement of the first mentioned means and the shoulders.

10. Stretching apparatus comprising a post; a stretcher on which an article is adapted to be stretched; a stretcher support extending laterally from the post; means for supporting the stretcher at a point remote from the first mentioned support; means for limiting the longitudinal movement in one direction of the stretcher relative to the said supporting means; and means for limiting the longitudinal movement of the stretcher in the opposite direction.

11'. Stretching apparatus comprising a post; a stretcher on which an article is adapted to be stretched; a stretcher support extending laterally from the post; means for supporting the stretcher at a point remote from the first mentioned support; a notch formed in the stretcher; a lug located at the side of the post for engagement with the notch; and means tending to hold the stretcher with its notch in engagement with the lug.

12. Trouser stretching apparatus comprising a pair of stretchers on which the legs of a pair of trousers are adapted to be stretched, each stretcher comprising a bar having a notch formed in the top thereof; lugs adapted to be received in the notches; and a stretcher support adapted to position the bars with their notches in engageinent with the lugs.

13. Trouser stretching apparatus-comprising a post; a pair of stretchers on which the legs of a pair of trousers are adapted to be stretched, each stretcher comprising a bar having an inverted U cross-section, each bar having a notch formed in the top thereof; lugs located at opposite sides of the post adapted to be received in the notches; a stretcher support extending laterally from each side of the post, the support being adapted to position the stretchers .for releasable engagement with the lugs; and arms directed rearwardly from the post adapted to be received between the vertical Walls of the U shaped bars for supporting the 'stretchers at a point remote from the first mentioned supports.

14. A trouser stretcher comprising a pair or stretcher members, one of the said members being rigid and the other resilient; spring means between the members tending to spread them apart; flexible means for drawing the members toward one another; and means carried by the rigid member for holding the flexible means.

15. A trouser stretcher comprising a rigid stretcher bar having a channel in its underside; a stretcher rod of springy material having a, portion thereof received within the channel; and flexible means for drawing the rod towards the channel.

16. A contractible stretcher comprising a rigid stretcher bar having a channel in its underside; a stretcher rod of springy material having a portion thereof received within the channel; and means for releasably retaining the stretcher in its contracted position including a. movable clamp jaw mounted in the channel.

17. Stretching apparatus comprising an expansible stretcher on which an article is adapted to be stretched, the stretcher being provided with a shoulder; a lug for engaging said shoulder; means for supporting the stretcher adjacent the lug; and means for supporting the stretcher .at a point remote from. the first supporting means and for limiting the longitudinal movement of the stretcher relative to the lug to position the shoulder for engagement thereby upon a swinging movement of the stretcher on the second mentioned support, the shoulder being adapted to engage the side of the lug remote from the second mentioned support to limit the longitudinal movement of the stretcher in a direction opposite that limited by the second mentioned supporting means.

18. A trouser stretcher comprising a pair of stretcher members; spring means between the members tending to spread them apart; a flexible member for drawing the stretcher members towards one another to contract the stretcher; and a releasable clamp for clamping the flexible member, the clamp having a movable part adapted to be tripped by the body of an operator.

19. A trouser stretcher comprising a pair of stretcher members; spring means between the members tending to spread them apart; a flexible member for drawing the stretcher members towards one another to contract the stretcher; and means carried on one of the members for frictionally gripping the flexible member.

20. Stretching apparatus comprising a stretcher on which an article is adapted to be stretched; a stretcher support; means for releasably engaging the stretcher while it is carried on the support to prevent it from moving longitudinally; means for limiting the sidewise movement in one direction of the stretcher to position it for engagement with the first mentioned means; and releasable means for limiting the sidewise movement in the other direction of the stretcher.

21. Stretching apparatus comprising a stretcher on which an article is adapted to be stretched; a stretcher support; means for releasably engaging the stretcher while it is carried on the support to prevent it from moving longitudinally; means for limiting the sidewise movement in one direction of the stretcher to position it for engagement with the first mentioned means; and spring means tending to hold the stretcher from sidewise movement away from the said positioning means.

22. A garment former consisting of two elongated forming members, one of said members having a chamber extending longitudinally thereof; spring means secured to said forming members and resiliently biasing the same outwardly 40m one another; a flexible tension member operatively engaging both of said forming members to draw the same toward one another against the action of said spring means, said tension member including a portion extending longitudinally within said longitudinal chamber of said one forming member and a portion extending transversely between said forming members; and means on said one forming member to engage said tension member .and hold said forming members in different positions of relative outward spacing with respect to one another.

23. A garment stretcher comprising a pair of stretcher members; spring means between the members tending to spread them apart; a flexible member for drawing the stretcher members towards one another to contract the stretcher; and means carried on one of the members for frictionally gripping the flexible member.

HOWARD ADDISON JOHNSTON. 

